Genesis 19:18 kjv

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my LORD:

Genesis 19:18 nkjv

Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!

Genesis 19:18 niv

But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please!

Genesis 19:18 esv

And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords.

Genesis 19:18 nlt

"Oh no, my lord!" Lot begged.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 18 Meaning

Genesis 19:18 captures Lot's fearful and desperate plea to the two angelic messengers who were sent to rescue him from the impending destruction of Sodom. After being instructed to flee to the mountains for safety, Lot, overwhelmed by fear and perceived danger, expresses his inability and unwillingness to obey that specific command. He strongly rejects the mountain refuge, pleading instead for an alternative, perceived as less dangerous, indicating his lack of full trust in the divine instruction given through the angels.

Genesis 19 18 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the terrifying judgment visited upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their pervasive wickedness and unrepentant sin, highlighted by their aggressive homosexual acts and abuse of strangers. Abraham's fervent intercession for Sodom (Gen 18) culminates in the divine decision to rescue Lot, Abraham's nephew, because of God's covenant loyalty to Abraham and Lot's unique position. Two angels arrive in Sodom, are hospitably received by Lot, and then brutally assaulted by the men of the city who demand sexual access to them. The angels strike the men with blindness and then reveal their true mission: to destroy Sodom and all its inhabitants. They urge Lot to gather his family and flee without delay to the mountains. Lot, however, procrastinates and must be literally dragged out by the angels. It is immediately after this forcible extraction and the angels' command to flee to the mountains that Lot utters the words of verse 18, expressing his deep-seated fear and rejection of their specific instruction, demonstrating his human weakness and lack of absolute faith in the face of grave danger. This verse precedes his subsequent plea for refuge in the smaller city of Zoar, which the angels mercifully permit.

Genesis 19 18 Word analysis

• And Lot: Introduces Lot as the direct actor and speaker in this critical moment. This sets the stage for examining his personal response to divine deliverance.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō’mer): The common Hebrew consecutive perfect, indicating a direct and immediate utterance. It signifies a vocal and articulate objection, not merely a thought or hesitation.
• to them: Refers to the two angels, God's messengers. Lot is addressing divine representatives, implicitly questioning their wisdom or command.
• Oh, (אָנָּה - 'annāh): An interjection or particle used for earnest pleading or supplication, often translated as "please" or "pray." It indicates an urgent and emotionally charged request, signaling a desperate plea for something contrary to what was just stated. It reveals Lot's distress and fear driving his words.
• not so, (אַל-נָא - al-nā’): A strong prohibitory particle, effectively meaning "no indeed," "by no means," or "do not, please." Combined with 'annāh, it conveys a forceful rejection or negative appeal against the immediate instruction. Lot is not merely expressing doubt; he is directly contradicting the angels' clear command to go to the mountains. This highlights his immediate opposition driven by his perceived danger and fear, even above the words of the divine messengers.
• my Lords (אֲדֹנָי - ’Ăḏōnāy): A deferential and respectful title, commonly used for human superiors or rulers. Here, Lot applies it to the two angels, acknowledging their authority and perhaps appealing to their compassion as a superior would to a petitioner. This respectful address, however, paradoxically precedes a direct challenge to their given command, demonstrating the internal conflict between respect for their divine authority and overwhelming human fear.

Words-group analysis:

• "Oh, not so, my Lords!": This complete phrase encapsulates Lot's human weakness, fear, and lack of complete trust in the face of divine instructions. It's a spontaneous outcry expressing immediate dissent to the specific command given by God's representatives. The plea for a deviation from the plan highlights his perception of the mountains as dangerous, rather than trusting in divine protection there. This human attempt to negotiate with a clear divine command, despite having just been miraculously rescued and faced with immediate danger, serves as a poignant reminder of how fear can hinder obedience and distort perception, even in a person declared righteous (2 Pet 2:7).

Genesis 19 18 Bonus section

• Divine Accommodation: This verse sets up the angelic (and by extension, God's) remarkable accommodation to Lot's plea. Despite commanding refuge in the mountains, the angels allowed Lot to flee to the smaller city of Zoar (Gen 19:20-22), which Lot mistakenly thought would be a safer, less challenging escape. This illustrates God's grace and patience with human weakness, sometimes adjusting His ideal plan to accommodate our limited faith, yet still ensuring salvation.
• Contrast with Abraham: Lot's objection here starkly contrasts with Abraham's earlier faith and obedience (Gen 12:4, Gen 22:3). While Abraham unquestioningly embarked on a journey to an unknown land or was willing to sacrifice Isaac based on God's word, Lot hesitated, lingered, and then objected to a life-saving divine instruction. This comparison serves as a quiet theological commentary on the different manifestations of faith and trust in God's specific commands.
• Symbolism of Mountains: The instruction to flee to the mountains could be seen not just as a physical escape but also a symbolic call to a higher, more secluded place away from the world's corruption, perhaps foreshadowing future biblical imagery where mountains are places of spiritual purity and encounter with God. Lot's rejection then signifies his reluctance for such separation.
• A "Fearing Righteous Man": Despite his significant flaws (lingering, wanting a "safer" option), the New Testament identifies Lot as "righteous" (2 Pet 2:7-8). Genesis 19:18 reminds us that even righteous individuals can experience deep fear and exhibit significant human weakness when facing extraordinary circumstances, but God's mercy and deliverance can still prevail for those who cling to Him, even imperfectly.

Genesis 19 18 Commentary

Genesis 19:18 is a concise yet profoundly telling verse, revealing much about Lot's character and the human response to divine intervention under duress. The angels had just physically extracted him and his family from a city about to be incinerated, then issued a crystal-clear command: "Flee to the mountains." Lot's immediate retort, "Oh, not so, my Lords!" (or "No, please, my lords!"), expresses not grateful compliance, but an objection born of profound fear.

His rejection of the mountains signifies his deep anxiety. Despite being guided by heavenly beings with demonstrated power (blinding the Sodomites), Lot’s earthly anxieties dominate. The mountains, which are often symbols of refuge and strength in biblical narratives (e.g., Ps 121:1, Ps 36:6), were perceived by him as a threat or an impossible escape, likely fearing wild beasts or his own exhaustion. His fear of immediate, visible obstacles eclipsed his faith in the unseen divine protection promised by the very beings leading him.

This moment underscores Lot's pervasive struggle throughout his life. He chose the fertile, worldly plains near Sodom (Gen 13:10) rather than trusting God in the less prosperous hills alongside Abraham. Here, his old habits of earthly calculation and fear persist. He doesn't question the destruction of Sodom or the angels' identity, but rather the specific, challenging instruction given for his salvation. This small protest against divine direction showcases the human tendency to prioritize perceived comfort or safety over divine wisdom, even when that wisdom offers the only true salvation. Ultimately, God, in His infinite mercy, condescends to Lot’s fear, permitting him to flee to the nearby city of Zoar, which Lot thought safer, demonstrating divine patience with human weakness while still bringing about His salvation plan.